To Serve and Protect

Two

Two loud knocks vibrated the large red door. The shorter boy refused to touch the door more than twice. Red. An unusual colour for a door. But that was the Innits brand. Red and white.

"Master, are you sure they're home right now?" Ranboo asked, concerned.

"Of course they're home, they have enough shillings to stay home for decades."

Suddenly, a latch opened from the inside and the large door was slightly ajar, enough so that a tall boy, most likely 16, with bright blue eyes and wild blond hair, could peek through.

"TOBY! I THOUGHT YOU DIED!" his loud voice boomed. It took all of Tubbo's willpower not to cover his ears.

"It's Tubbo now, and no, I haven't passed."

Tommy looked fuzzed.

"Tubbo? That's a stupid name. Come in, come in, Mother Innit is out right now but Father's preparing some paperwork if you want to say hello. Oh, hi Ranboo. Long time no see."

Ranboo raised a feeble hand, "good afternoon, Mr. Innit." It truly had been a good minute since they last interacted. Tommy had gotten taller, his face had thinned out and his hair was unkempt in the most organized way.

"HA HA, MR. INNIT? TUBBO YOU REALLY DID TOO MUCH PICKING THIS ONE OUT!" Tommy was back to his outgoing way of speaking. Ranboo blushed, the white side of his face a dusty pink. He didn't do too well with loud noises.

Tubbo and Ranboo made their way inside, Tommy leading the way.

"So why are you here? You never visit me." Tommy inquired, his light hair bouncing as he looked into his cousins' eyes. They were seated at a living room type area, with regal-looking chairs, each one reeking of wealth. Tubbo turned his nose up at the sight, not caring about whether Tommy saw or not. Luckily, he didn't.

Tubbo felt a bit ashamed to have to ask his cousin for such a big favour but if he didn't do it, his hotel would be running to the ground.

"Well, you see, I have a hotel, you may have heard of it- Bee 'n Boo?" Tubbo almost stumbled over his words. Why was he so nervous? Tommy was family, there was nothing to be ashamed of.

"Of course, I sent a maid or two to stay there during their break last week." Tommy leaned in, "They're homeless, the lot of them. They don't have anywhere to go sometimes and your hotel is close so I send them there when I can. Don't tell Mother or Father however, they're not as nice to the help." Tommy was speaking lowly, with earnest. Why he suddenly confided in Tubbo, he nor Ranboo may never know.

"Not to worry, I won't utter a word. I'm glad you can find in yourself to tell me all this. I promise if your parents do find out, it will not have come from me or my butler."

Ranboo nodded. It reassured Tommy.

"Well, onto the proposition then, c'mon, I don't have all day," Tommy said in a joking tone.

Tubbo took a breath, "well, my hotel, we're - my colleagues and I- have been thinking about reaching out and finding a new way of advertising. We decided on a mascot, which is a bee and we need a bit of funding to produce merchandise. Do you think you and your family could loan us a specific sum of money? I know it seems sudden but I promise we'll pay your family back as soon as possible."

Would Tommy laugh in his face? Would he tell Tubbo to leave in disgust? The shorter boy mentally braced himself for whatever Tommy could reject him with.

Instead of lashing out, Tommy nodded.

"Okay, but it'll cost you."

Tubbo panicked. He didn't have the funds to pay Tommy right at that moment. The latter seemed to notice.

"Not money, fool, I just need help with this case I'm trying to solve."

"Case? Like a mystery?" Tubbo inquired, now intrigued. Ranboo's ears perked in surprise. He assumed this wasn't his information to know. Tommy never dismissed him, however, which probably meant he had to help as well.

"Yes of course." he leaned in again, a clear sign that there was something he couldn't let his parents know. "Jewels are going missing all around London. First the Paynes, then the Soots, it's all a mess right now. I wanted to figure out who's behind all this before my ma's necklace goes missing for good. That diamond is worth more than you know and Father has always made the mistake of flaunting it. I'm set to get married to Ms. Minx, Father's brother's daughter. If that necklace along with the rest of our armoire goes missing, our family name along with yours will crumble to the ground. I can't have that happen, not at all. I need to figure out who the thief is before that happens. Will you help me, Tubbo? Whatever happens, as long as you agree to help me, I'll give you whatever sum of money you could ever ask for, no paybacks required. Please, Tubbo."

Ranboo's heterochromatic eyes shot open. He glanced at Tubbo, who had a hard look on his face. He didn't look surprised, not even worried.

"Fine, my dear cousin, I'll help."